The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi, I was wondering if anyone on the forum could tell me if this recorder is complete or is it missing the cutter? I am not an Edison Collector and do not know much about these? Thanks, Tom

The bar is there, but I can't tell from the photo if the cutter is in the bar. A shot from the side (preferably in focus) would be better.

George P.

The photo is pretty poor but it looks like the sapphire is either severely damaged or not there altogether

Hmm. Hard to tell from this picture, but the cutter could well be there because I have seen these cutters in these automatic recorders as being notably short.

I purchased an automatic recorder from a forum member on here a few years ago for a very reasonable price.
When it arrived I went about testing it. It worked but the sound was very faint. Removed the stylus bar, held it in an alcohol flame, grabbed the stylus
and attempted to twist it but accidentally pulled it clear out instead. While it was out I noticed it is very short. Re-installed stylus in bar, rotated off the original axis.

That recorder now talks up nice and loud and crisp. Anyway, cutters on automatics can sometimes be very short.

Chuck